Chen JW, Allen SM. "Fictionality in Early and Medieval China". New Literary History. 2020;51(1):231–34.
Abstract
Although there is no explicit concept of fictionality in early and medieval China, one can find expressions of what might be identified as fiction across various genres, including philosophical writing, poetry, and semi-or pseudo-historical narrative tales. Allen and Chen argue that fictionality need not be articulated as such in order to be present, and that readers in early and medieval China could recognize and enjoy the indeterminacy that marked fictional discourse.